P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Max Verstappen believes Red Bull are on the backfoot heading to the 2025 season-opening Australian Grand Prix.
Max Verstappen admits that the new Red Bull RB21 is not competitive enough to contend for victory in the upcoming Australian Grand Prix. Verstappen, who has won the last two season-opening races in Bahrain, acknowledges that McLaren appears to be the favorite based on lap times. Despite a less than ideal pre-season test for Red Bull, Verstappen is optimistic about potential improvements to the car and has been actively involved in simulator work with the team. He believes that victory in Melbourne may be out of reach but hopes for progress in the upcoming races. Verstappen also expressed some disappointment in the performance of the RB21 upgrades over the winter, stating that Red Bull had anticipated a greater improvement.
